USAF Retires "First Operational" KC-135R....Again: The U.S. Air Forceannounced on Feb. 22 that it had retired the "first operational KC-135R" from service, when tail number 61-0312 arrived at Davis-Monthan AFB, AZ. However, Aviation Week Intelligence Network's Fleet database records KC-135R tail number 60-0319 arriving for storage on Jun. 20, 2012. It's unclear therefore why the folks at Altus proclaimed this month's arrival as the "first".In the 1980s and 1990s the USAF re-engined over 400 tankers with more powerful and efficient CFM-56 engines, designated KC-135R or KC-135T. These are now the only KC-135s in the fleet and are expected to soldier on for many years yet.

After more than 50 years of service and 22,500 flying hours, the first operational KC-135R Stratotanker retired from service, Feb. 21, 2013. The aircraft made one last high-speed pass on the runway before heading to the 309th Aerospace Maintenance and Regeneration Group, Davis-Monthan AFB, AZ, better known as the "Bonyard," where Air Force aircraft go to provide parts to satisfy critical supply needs without any major holds.

Russian Helicopters, part of state defence holding Oboronprom – the part of Russian Technologies (Rostec) State Corporation and a leading global designer and manufacturer of helicopters, will bring its Australian calling card – the medium multi-role Ka-32A11BC – to Avalon 2013, the international aviation exhibition taking place from 26 February to 3 March in Geelong. The Russian Helicopters display can be found at stand 2F4.

The Pentagon’s director of the F-35 program said Monday the next-generation US fighter jet could be back in the air within a fortnight after an engine crack forced the grounding of test flights.

If the crack’s cause was as straightforward as a foreign object striking the turbine, or a basic manufacturing defect, “I could foresee the airplane back in the air in the next week or two”, Bogdan told reporters in Melbourne.

Air France-KLM’s cargo division is facing a “drastic and substantial re-organization” after posting a €222 million ($291 million) full-year operating loss, compared to a €60 million loss in 2011.

“This result cannot be satisfactory. It requires drastic and substantial reorganization steps,” Air France-KLM chairman and CEO Jean-Cyril Spinetta said at the release of the group’s2012 financial results. Spinetta detailed plans to slash the division’s losses by €140 million, although he added: “This is not an Air France-KLM crisis. This is a crisis for all cargo leaders around the globe.”

Alitalia reported a 2012 net loss of €280 million ($370 million), worsened from a loss of €69 million in 2011.

As the results were announced, CEO Andrea Ragnetti submitted his resignation. According to a company statement, Alitalia and Ragnetti “have mutually agreed to terminate their relationship. Mr. Ragnetti resigned from the board and as chief executive officer of Alitalia and Air One as well as managing director of Alitalia,” it said. Ragnetti was named CEO last March.

The Australian Department of Defence has declared Initial Operational Capability (IOC) of the Airbus Military KC-30A - its designation for the A330 MRTT.

The announcement was made on the opening day of the Australian International Airshow, Avalon, by Minister for Defence Stephen Smith (pictured above) and Minister for Defence Materiel Mike Kelly.

The Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) accepted the fifth and final MRTT from Airbus Military on 30 November last year. The aircraft was delivered to RAAF Base Amberley in early December 2012. As well, the RAAF completed the first Australian pilot and Air Refuelling Operator courses at the MRTT training centre (RAAF Base Amberley) in December 2012.

Airbus Military Vice President Derivative Programmes, Antonio Caramazana said: “We very much welcome the announcement of the Initial Operating Capability of the KC-30A. This reinforces the fact that the A330 MRTT is the world´s only certified and flying new generation tanker/transport and the RAAF is to be commended for its dedication and commitment to bringing the aircraft to operational status.”

In RAAF service the A330 MRTT is equipped with two underwing refuelling pods, the fly-by-wire Airbus Military Aerial Refuelling Boom System (ARBS), and a Universal Aerial Refuelling Receptacle Slipway Installation (UARRSI) enabling it to be refuelled from another tanker. Powered by two General Electric CF6-80E engines, the aircraft equipped with a comprehensive defensive aids suite (DAS) and fitted with 270 passenger seats.
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ST. LOUIS, Feb. 26, 2013 -- Four operational flight trainers built by Boeing [NYSE: BA] are up and running at Naval Air Station Pensacola (Fla.), allowing the U.S. Navy to shift some training for its T-45 aircraft to the ground and thereby improve safety and save money.

The flight simulators use high-fidelity, state-of-the-art visuals to train naval flight officers (NFO) on the ground, saving time and freeing up the aircraft for live flight instruction. NFOs specialize in airborne weapons and sensor systems operating from the back seat of the aircraft.

The devices are used by the Navy to provide advanced instruction for transition to F/A-18, EA-18G and EA-6B platforms. Students are trained in navigation, communication, emergencies, target identification and weapons employment, and basic carrier operations, among other learning objectives.

"Nearly 150 students per year will train on the simulators," said Mark McGraw, vice president of Boeing Training Systems and Government Services. "This allows the Navy to add an array of virtual wingmen and synthetic threats, building a more robust mission rehearsal."

ST. LOUIS, Feb. 26, 2013 -- Boeing's [NYSE: BA] liquid hydrogen-powered Phantom Eye unmanned airborne system completed its second flight Feb. 25, demonstrating capabilities that will allow it to perform intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) missions for up to four days without refueling.

During the flight, at NASA's Dryden Flight Research Center at Edwards Air Force Base, Calif., Phantom Eye climbed above an altitude of 8,000 feet and remained aloft for 66 minutes at a cruising speed of 62 knots before landing. The aircraft exceeded what it achieved last year during its first flight when it flew at an altitude of 4,080 feet and remained aloft for 28 minutes.

"Today’s combination of geopolitical and economic issues makes Phantom Eye's capabilities, affordability and flexibility very attractive to our global customers," said Darryl Davis, Boeing Phantom Works president. "No other system holds the promise of offering on-demand, persistent ISR and communications to any region in the world, rapidly responding to natural disasters and national security issues."

Boeing is self-funding development of the environmentally responsible Phantom Eye, which generates only water as a byproduct of its propulsion system.

Following the first flight, Boeing upgraded the aircraft's software and hardware, including the landing gear. The upgrades paid off in the form of a picture-perfect landing.

The Phantom Eye demonstrator is capable of carrying a 450-pound payload while operating for up to four days at altitudes of up to 65,000 feet.

A unit of The Boeing Company, Boeing Defense, Space & Security is one of the world's largest defense, space and security businesses specializing in innovative and capabilities-driven customer solutions, and the world's largest and most versatile manufacturer of military aircraft. Headquartered in St. Louis, Boeing Defense, Space & Security is a $33 billion business with 59,433 employees worldwide. Follow us on Twitter: @BoeingDefense.
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EADS Pushing Harfang as MALE Gapfiller: EADS says it will push to remain the incumbent supplier of medium-altitude long-endurance (MALE) unmanned aerial systems in Europe, where efforts to develop a pan-European MALE vehicle remain in flux. Speaking to reporters in Berlin, EADS Chief Strategy & Marketing Officer Marwan Lahoud said development of a European MALE UAV is a long-term effort and that the company's Harfang UAV could serve as a gap-filler for European armed forces in the meantime. "The only fielded MALE in service coming from European manufacturers in a European armed force is our system," he said during an annual EADS press conference here. Harfang, based on the Israel Aerospace Industries Heron UAV, is currently in service with the French armed forces.

USAF Retires First Operational KC-135R Stratotanker: Airplane Headed To The 'Boneyard' After 50 Years Of Service After more than 50 years of service and 22,500 flying hours, the first operational KC-135R Stratotanker retired from service, Feb. 21, 2013. The aircraft made one last high-speed pass on the runway before heading to the 309th Aerospace Maintenance and Regeneration Group, Davis-Monthan AFB, AZ, better known as the "Boneyard," where Air Force aircraft go to provide parts to satisfy critical supply needs without any major holds.

The Royal Saudi Air Force has formally inducted into service the Airbus Military A330 MRTT new generation tanker/transport aircraft. Deputy Minister of Defense Prince Khaled bin Sultan dedicated the aircraft at a ceremony at Riyadh Airbase on 25 February. The aircraft is the first of a batch of three that have now been contractually delivered. Deliveries of a second batch of three which were subsequently ordered will begin at the end of 2014. They will be used to refuel RSAF fighters including the F-15, Typhoon and Tornado. A330 MRTTs have now been delivered to all four current customers – Australia, Saudi Arabia, UAE and UK.